An important part of doing magic is being in touch with the flow of energy as it expresses itself through the universe, especially through the cycles of the stars, the sun and the moon. Keeping track of these cycles is easy if you have any one of the popular calendars which list the moon sign like the WeMoon Almanac or the Pocket Astrologer or the Moon Phases card.

During every lunar cycle (or moonth, the term Donna Henes uses to remind us of the root of the word month), the moon passes through your astrological sun sign. This is often a time of personal power, when you feel truly in sync with your personality. Helen Farias noted that wishes (prayers, affirmations, spells) expressed on the day the moon was in her sun sign were usually granted. If you know your moon sign, you may also notice a shift of energy when the moon moves through this sign, which will also happen once every lunar cycle. Often this is a time when you are sensitive and aware of your feelings.

You also have several other moon power points during the year. The moon will be new in your sun sign once a year and full in your sun sign once a year. The New Moon, when the moon is dark or invisible is a seed point, a time for going deep within and attuning with spirit. Since it always happens near your birthday, you can use it as a time for setting an intention for the upcoming year. The full moon in your sign is more likely to be the time for a party (too bad it’s half a year away from your birthday), a time for going out into the world, connecting with other people and expressing yourself creatively.

The moon will pass through all of its phases in your sign during the year. You might also want to note when it is in your sign in the first quarter and the last quarter. The first quarter moon in your sun sign would be a good time for initiating a project or casting a spell, planning or going on a vision quest. The last quarter moon is a time for reflecting on your achievements, evaluating your experiences and grieving your losses (perhaps with a ritual of letting go).

Now that you know the principles, you can also pay attention to these power points when they fall in the same sign as your natal moon or the sign of your Ascendant. Each one can be occasion for a ritual.

Charting Your Moon Power Points
The chart below can help you identify your Moon Power Points for the coming year. Dates are taken from Jim Maynard’s 2018 Pocket Astrologer for Pacific Time. Lucky Virgos get two chances to start a new project with two first quarter moons, while Libras get two chances to wrap things up or let go of what’s not working with two last quarter moons, one at the start of the year and one at the end. Leo and Aquarius are experiencing multiple eclipses. For a great description of how eclipses affect you, see this article by Susan Miller.

Moon Phase

New

Full

First Quarter

Last Quarter

Seed point,
make wish

Celebrate

Initiate a project,
state intentions

Reflect, evaluate,
let go, banish

Aries

Apr 15

Sep 24, harvest moon

Jan 13, 2019

Jul 6

Taurus

May 15

Oct 24

Jan 24

Aug 4

Gemini

Jun 13

Nov 22

Feb 23

Sep 2

Cancer

Jul 12, eclipse

Dec 22

Mar 24

Oct 2

Leo

Aug 11, eclipse

Jan 31, eclipse

Apr 22

Oct 31

Virgo

Sep 9

Mar 1

May 21, Jun 20

Nov 29

Libra

Oct 8

Mar 31

Jul 19

Jan 8, Dec 29,

Scorpio

Nov 7

Apr 29

Aug 18

Feb 7

Sagittarius

Dec 6

May 29

Sep 16

Mar 9

Capricorn

Jan 16

Jun 27

Oct 16

Apr 8

Aquarius

Feb 15 eclipse

Jul 27 eclipse

Nov 15

May 7

Pisces

Mar 17

Aug 26

Dec 15

Jun 6

References:
This article first appeared in the Winter 1998 issue of The Beltane Papers: A Journal of Womens Mysteries.

Farias, Helen was the founding mother of The Beltane Papers. Until her untimely death in 1994, her wisdom and scholarship could be found in every issue. She frequently wrote about calendar customs and working with lunar and solar energies.

Ask about these calendars at your local bookstore. If you can’t find them there, contact the publisher directly.
Pocket Astrologer is a handy guide created by Jim Maynard containing detailed astrological information for the year. It is available in a wall calendar, an engagement calendar, or, my favorite, the little pocket-sized book, for either Eastern or Pacific time. Order it from Quicksilver Productions.
Lunar Phases card: A simple tool for tracking the moon’s cycles, a one page card on stiff paper which can be ordered from Snake and Snake Production
WeMoon Almanac, a lovely engagement calendar, featuring original art, good writing and astrological lore, published by Mother Tongue Inc. For more information, go here. Their theme for 2018 is La Luna.

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